Missing girl's stepmother is 'scared to death.'

The stepmother of a missing Hickory girl appeared in court Wednesday under a felony obstruction of justice charge.

Elisa Baker, 42, stepmother of missing 10-year-old Zahra Clare Baker, walked into a courtroom in the Catawba County Justice Center on Wednesday morning wearing a pink jumpsuit and handcuffs.

Baker's bond for the felony obstruction of justice charge is set at $40,000. Her court-appointed attorney, Scott Reilly, said he plans to file a motion to reduce Baker's bond. The process could take about five days, he said.

Baker is set to appear in court Nov. 3 for a probable cause hearing.

Reilly said Baker is "scared to death."

Copyright 2010 Observer News Enterprise

The stepmother of missing 10-year-old Zahra Clare Baker appeared in court Wednesday for a felony obstruction of justice charge.